Ash Enrici

Dr. Ash Enrici serves as Assistant Professor at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and holds the McKinney Family Fellowship in Environmental Resilience and Philanthropy. She pioneers the field of environmental philanthropy as a mosaic of intentional practices rooted in diverse traditions, examining how these advance well-being for all beings through ecological interconnectedness.

Education:

• PhD in Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park (2016)
• Master of Applied Arts in Anthropology, University of Maryland, College Park (2010)
• B.A. in Anthropology, Purdue University (2003)

Her research investigates effective donor strategies for climate mitigation and conservation, with specialized focus on leveraging dive tourism for coral reef restoration. Employing collaborative knowledge co-production, ethnography, and Qualitative Comparative Analysis, she explores storytelling's role in environmental change across Indonesia, Fiji, Palau, and the U.S. mid-Atlantic region.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in marine conservation philanthropy governance, responsible exit strategies, and REDD+ implementation challenges, alongside consistent examination of environmental justice in coastal adaptation across urban U.S. communities.

Scientific Awards:

• McKinney Family Fellow of Environmental Resilience and Philanthropy

Dr. Enrici mentors graduate students in environmental philanthropy while leading globally collaborative research projects on coral restoration and climate adaptation. Her grant-funded work integrates social science perspectives into conservation planning through partnerships with international institutions and interdisciplinary teams.

As a certified freediving instructor since 2015, she bridges academic research with ocean conservation practice, contributing to the Lilly School's mission of fostering human-environment connections for ecological thriving.